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| Sunday, 2 February 2003 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Architects and their designs by FACTOTUM Readers skimming through advertisements, especially prospective buyers of houses are quite familiar with the phrase 'architect designed.' That tag enhances the value of the property. It also conveys to the peruser a whole lot of information that is already encoded in the mind of the knowledgeable. Decoding such data would reveal that the house for sale has been designed by a professional who would have taken into account not only the space available and the limitations of a budget but other factors such as the environment with which the newly designed construction must blend. The stamp of a professional or a team of professionals is therefore clearly discernible in the recent and not so recent constructions that dot our coastline in the form of hotels and motels and also residences that peep out of a mass of other buildings in the city and suburbs. There is then a gradual recognition of the architect among investors and house builders. This recognition is partly if not wholly due to the very salutary image that the architects themselves have created in the public mind which in itself is a great achievement considering that they were not part of the planning process in urban development until recently. Architects are a formidable breed today having banded themselves together backed by statute and are jealously guarding and proudly parading their professionalism as they did the other day in meeting the media as a prelude to their annual sessions to be held in just over a fortnight from now. They have come a long way from the days of Adam who we are told with small designed the very premises that rolls out this publication. It was 30 years later in 1956 that a group of overseas qualified Architects formed the Ceylon Institute of Architects. It was still another twenty years later that the Institute was incorporated as the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA) as it is known today, by an Act of Parliament. From then onwards this Institute has gone from strength to strength, empowered even to engage in architectural education in the country. SLIA is known to have closely monitored intrusion by non-professionals into their field. Some such have now been arraigned before Court. It has also alerted the authorities to foreigners encroaching into their territory under what is perceived as a loophole in the terms set out by the Board of Investment for foreign participation. SLIA is hopeful that this matter too would be settled in favour of its membership. The annual sessions planned for this year include a National Conference on the theme 'Urbanization, Housing and Reconstruction' appropriately thought out in the current context of peace and reconciliation. On show will be a members' work exhibition and a trade exhibition that is expected to attract a near 100,000 visitors. Career guidance for architect aspirants and a programme to build low cost houses for internally displaced persons are on the cards. These ventures are sure to enhance the standing of the Architect in the community. Above all, recognition of the presence of such a breed outside the metropolis and among the broad mass of the people is necessary to tap the wealth of resources that these professionals can bring to bear in programmes of urbanisation. Already the voters of Colombo and Kotte have recognized their worth in electing two among them to the high office of Mayor of neighbouring local councils. What more designs are in the offing have yet to be revealed. These professionals then and their designs deserve wider recognition and acceptance to enhance the quality of town planning and urbanisation. |
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